Protest Disrupts Operations At NAFDAC Lagos Office Over Sachet Alcohol Ban

Protest Disrupts Operations At NAFDAC Lagos Office Over Sachet Alcohol Ban
NAFDAC staff briefly locked out of office
Agency denies directive to suspend enforcement

A mild drama unfolded on Wednesday at the Lagos office of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control as workers were temporarily locked out of the premises following a protest.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that members of the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees blocked both the entrance and exit gates in opposition to the agency’s enforcement of a ban on the production and sale of sachet alcohol and alcoholic drinks in PET bottles below 200 millilitres.

The protesters demanded the immediate unsealing of affected factories and production lines, warning that continued enforcement of the policy could lead to significant economic consequences for workers and businesses in the sector.

Some placards displayed during the protest accused the Director General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, of working against government directives and undermining industry interests.

Police officers were later deployed to the NAFDAC premises in Isolo. The barricade was subsequently removed, allowing staff to regain access to the office and restoring normal activities.

The development comes amid conflicting reports earlier this month alleging that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Office of the National Security Adviser had directed a suspension of the ban and ordered the reopening of sealed production lines.

NAFDAC, however, dismissed the claims as false and misleading, stating that it had not received any directive from the Federal Government to halt enforcement.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the agency maintained that it was acting within its statutory mandate and in line with officially communicated government policies.